December 2007 Airline Traffic Data: U.S. Airlines Carry Record 769 Million Passengers in 2007

December 2007 Airline Traffic Data: U.S. Airlines Carry Record 769 Million Passengers in 2007

Thursday, March 13, 2008 - U.S. airlines set an annual record by carrying 769.4 million scheduled domestic and international passengers on their systems in 2007, nearly 25 million more passengers or 3.3 percent more than they did in 2006 when the previous high was reached, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) today reported in a release of preliminary data (Table 1).

BTS, a part of DOT's Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that U.S. airlines carried 3.1 percent more domestic passengers in 2007 than in 2006, for an annual record of 679 million (Table 7). U.S. airlines carried 4.7 percent more international passengers in 2007 than in 2006, for an annual record of 90 million (Table 13). These passengers traveled on planes with average load factors of 79.9 percent, an annual record (Tables 1, 7 and 13).

In December, the most recent month, U.S. airlines carried 60.8 million scheduled domestic and international passengers, 0.1 percent more than in December 2006 (Table 2). The number of domestic passengers decreased 0.6 percent in December from a year earlier and international passengers increased 4.9 percent (Tables 7, 13).

Top Airlines in 2007

Southwest Airlines carried more total system passengers in 2007 than any other airline for the first time. American Airlines had topped the list in the previous five years (Table 3); Southwest carried more domestic passengers than any other airline for the fourth consecutive year (Table 9); and American carried more international passengers than any U.S. carrier for the 18th consecutive year (Table 15).

America West Airlines and US Airways report jointly as US Airways. Numbers reported as US Airways in this release for previous years do not include America West's numbers. See the notes for system, domestic and international airline ranking tables 3, 4, 9, 10, 15 and 16 for 2007 and 2006 passenger numbers previously reported for America West.

Top Airports in 2007

More total system and domestic passengers boarded planes operated by U.S. carriers in 2007 at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International than at any other U.S. airport for the 12th consecutive year (Tables 5 and 11); more international passengers boarded U.S. carriers at Miami International than at any other U.S. airport for the 13th consecutive year (Table 17).

Flights Operated

U.S. carriers operated 10.7 million domestic and international flights in 2007, 1.0 percent more than were operated in 2006 (Table 1). Domestic fights were up 1.0 percent from the previous year while international flights were up 0.8 percent (Tables 7, 13).

In December, U.S. airlines operated 872,900 scheduled domestic and international flights, down 0.4 percent from the number of flights operated in December 2006 (Table 1). The number of domestic flights declined 0.5 percent in December from a year earlier while international flights increased 0.8 percent (Tables 7, 13).

System Comparisons (Table 1-6)

In other total system comparisons from 2006 to 2007 and from December 2006 to December 2007 (Table 1):

Revenue passenger-miles (RPMs), a measure of the number of passengers and the distance flown, were up 4.0 percent in 2007. In December, RPMs were up 2.4 percent.

Available seat-miles (ASMs), a measure of airline capacity using the number of seats and the distance flown, were up 3.1 percent in 2007. In December, ASMs were up 3.2 percent.

Passenger load factor, passenger miles as a proportion of available seat-miles, was up 0.7 load factor points to 79.9 percent in 2007. In December, load factor was down 0.6 load factor points to 76.4 percent.

Flight stage length, the average non-stop distance flown per departure, was up 1.5 percent in 2007. In December, flight stage length was up 3.3 percent.

Passenger trip length, the average distance flown per passenger, was up 0.7 percent in 2007. In December, passenger trip length was up 2.3 percent.

Among U.S. airlines, Southwestcarried 101.9 million passengers on its system in 2007, the most of any airline (Table 3). In December, Southwest carried 8.1 million passengers on its system, the most of any airline (Table 4).

Among airports, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson was the busiest U.S. airport in 2007, with 42.6 million domestic and international passenger boardings (Table 5). In December, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson was the busiest U.S. airport with 3.4 million domestic and international passenger boardings on U. S. carriers (Table 6).

Domestic Air Travel (Tables 7-12)

U.S. airlines carried 679.1 million scheduled domestic passengers in 2007, up 3.1 percent from 658.4 million carried in 2006 (Table 8). The passengers were carried on 9.8 million flights, up 1.0 percent from the 9.7 million flights operated in 2006 (Table 7).

In the most recent data month, December, the airlines carried 53.2 million scheduled domestic passengers, down 0.6 percent from the 53.5 million carried during December 2006 (Table 8). The passengers were carried on 800,800 flights, down 0.5 percent from the 805,000 flights operated in December 2006 (Table 7).

In other domestic comparisons from 2006 to 2007 and from December 2006 to December 2007 (Table 7):

Domestic revenue passenger-miles (RPMs), a measure of the number of passengers and the distance flown, were up 3.1 percent in 2007. In December, domestic RPMs were up 0.4 percent.

Domestic available seat-miles (ASMs), a measure of airline capacity using the number of seats and the distance flown, were up 2.1 percent in 2007. In December, domestic ASMs were up 1.7 percent.

Domestic passenger load factor, passenger miles as a proportion of available seat-miles, was up 0.7 load factor points to 79.9 percent in 2007. In December, domestic load factor was down 1.0 load factor point to 75.6 percent.

Domestic flight stage length, the average non-stop distance flown per departure, was up 0.9 percent in 2007. In December, domestic flight stage length was up 2.5 percent.

Domestic passenger trip length, the average distance flown per passenger, was unchanged in 2007. In December, domestic passenger trip length was up 1.0 percent.

Southwest carried 101.9 million domestic passengers in 2007, the most of any airline (Table 9). In December, Southwestcarried 8.1 million domestic passengers, the most of any airline (Table 10).

International Air Travel (Tables 13-18)

U.S. airlines carried 90.4 million scheduled international passengers in 2007, up 4.7 percent from the 86.3 million carried in 2006 (Table 14). The passengers were carried on 856,800 flights, up 0.8 percent from the 849,800 flights operated in 2006 (Table 13).

In the most recent data month, December, the airlines carried 7.5 million international passengers, up 4.9 percent from the 7.2 million carried during December 2006. The passengers were carried on 72,100 flights, up 0.8 percent from the 71,600 flights operated in December 2006 (Table 13).

In other international comparisons from 2006 to 2007 and from December 2006 to December 2007 (Table 13):

International revenue passenger miles (RPMs), a measure of the number of passengers and the distance flown, were up 6.4 percent in 2007. In December, international RPMs were up 7.5 percent.

International available seat-miles (ASMs), a measure of airline capacity using the number of seats and the distance flown, were up 5.6 percent in 2007. In December, international ASMs were up 6.9 percent.

International passenger load factor, passenger miles as a proportion of available seat-miles, was up 0.6 load factor points to 80.0 in 2007. In December, international load factor was up 0.5 load factor points to 78.5.

International flight stage length, the average non-stop distance flown per departure, was up 4.5 percent in 2007. In December, international flight stage length was up 5.6 percent.

International passenger trip length, the average distance flown per passenger was up 1.6 percent in 2007. In December, international passenger trip length was up 2.5 percent.

Americancarried 21.6 million international passengers in 2007, the most of any U.S. airline (Table 15). In December, Americancarried 1.8 million international passengers, the most of any U.S. airline (Table 16).

Miami International was the busiest U.S. airport for international travel on U.S. carriers in 2007, with 4.8 million international passenger boardings (Table 17). In December, Miami International was the busiest U.S. airport for international travel on U.S. carriers with 442,200 international passenger boardings (Table 18).

Reporting Notes

Data are compiled from monthly reports filed with BTS by commercial U.S. air carriers detailing operations, passenger traffic and freight traffic. This release includes data received by BTS from 90 carriers as of March 3 for U.S. carrier scheduled civilian operations. U.S. carriers' foreign point-to-point flights are included in system and international totals. To create a customized table for passengers, flights, RPMs, ASMs and other data, including non-scheduled service, go to http://www.bts.gov/programs/airline_information/air_carrier_traffic_statistics/.

Additional traffic numbers are available on the BTS website at TranStats, the Intermodal Transportation Database, at http://transtats.bts.gov. Click on "Aviation." For system passengers, RPMs and ASMs by carrier through June, click on "Air Carrier Summary Data (Form 41 and 298C Summary Data)," and then click on "Schedule T-1."

For domestic numbers through November and international numbers through July by origin as well as by carrier and region, after clicking on "Aviation," click on "Air Carrier Statistics (Form 41 Traffic)." Click on "T-100 Market" for system passenger numbers, "T-100 Domestic Market" for domestic or "T-100 International Market" for international. For flights, stage length and trip length, use the appropriate T-100 Segment database.

TranStats system and international totals do not include U.S. carriers' foreign point-to-point flights. For December, U.S. carriers reported 243,849 foreign point-to-point passengers. For 2007, U.S. carriers reported 2,978,833 foreign point-to-point passengers.

Data are subject to revision. BTS has scheduled April 10 for the release of January traffic data.

Table 1. Scheduled System (Domestic and International) Airline Travel on U.S. Carriers

** US Airways Jan-Dec 2007 numbers include only US Airways for Jan-Sept and a combined number for the merged US Airways and America West in subsequent months. For Jan-Sept 2007, America West reported 15.657 million enplaned system passengers. The 2006 number was reported separately by US Airways. For Jan-Dec 2006, America West reported 21.176 million enplaned system passengers.

Note: Percentage changes based on numbers prior to rounding.

Table 4. Top 10 U.S. Airlines, ranked by December 2007 System* Scheduled Enplanements

** US Airways 2007 number is the report of the merged US Airways and America West. The 2006 number was reported separately by US Airways. America West reported 1.691 million system passengers in December 2006.

* US Airways Jan-Dec 2007 numbers include only US Airways for Jan-Sept and a combined number for the merged US Airways and America West in subsequent months. For Jan-Sept 2007, America West reported 14.667 million enplaned domestic passengers. The 2006 number was reported separately by US Airways. For Jan-Dec. 2006, America West reported 19.943 million enplaned domestic passengers

Note: Percentage changes based on numbers prior to rounding.

Table 10. Top 10 U.S. Airlines, ranked by December 2007 Domestic Scheduled Enplanements

* US Airways 2007 number is the report of the merged US Airways and America West. The 2006 number was reported separately by US Airways. America West reported 1.578 million domestic passengers in December 2006.

* US Airways Jan-Dec 2007 numbers include only US Airways for Jan-Sept and a combined number for the merged US Airways and America West in subsequent months. For Jan-Sept 2007, America West reported 990.3 thousand enplaned international passengers. The 2006 number was reported separately by US Airways. For Jan-Dec 2006, America West reported 1,232.8 thousand enplaned international passengers.

Note: Percentage changes based on numbers prior to rounding.

Table 16. Top 10 U.S. Airlines, ranked by December 2007 International Scheduled Enplanements

* US Airways 2007 number is the report of the merged US Airways and America West. The 2006 number was reported separately by US Airways. America West reported 112.5 thousand international passengers in December 2006.

Note: Percentage changes based on numbers prior to rounding

Table 17. Top 10 U.S. Airports, ranked by 2007 International Scheduled Enplanements